Improvement in fire-kindlers for steam fire-engines



Patented May 25,1375.

F BEA U FAI T Fire-Kindler for Steam Fire-Engines.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK BEAUFAIT, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND JAMESBATTLE, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIRE-KINDLERS FOR STEAM FIRE-ENGINES.

v Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 163,723, dated May i5,1875,' application filed December 11, 1874.

To all whom it may concern Beit known that I, FRANK BEAUEAIT, ofDetroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented anImproved Automatic Fire-Lighter for Steam Fire-Engines, of which thefollowing` is a specification:

The object of my invention is to provide an attachment to the boiler ofa steam reengine under the grate thereof, by means of which the fuelwill automatically be kindled in the boiler-furnace of the engine as itmoves out of the house.

The invention consists in a port re-carrier located under the grate, andin combination therewith a serrated plate to be attached to the oor ofthe engine by a cord or otherwise to ignite the moving port fire-match.

Figure l is a perspective view ofthe device as attached to a boiler of alire-engine. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal vertical section of thesame.

In the drawing, A represents a portion of the grate under the furnace ofthe upright boiler of a steam fire-engine, under the fore part of whichis secured, by means of a bracket-plate, B, a vertical tube, C, in theshape of a cylinder having a screw, a, tapped in its lower end, whileits upper end is a T-head,

having a horizontal longitudinal slot through it, in which is inserted afriction-plate, D, serrated on the under side, and which plate isconnected at its rear end by a cord or chain, b, to the oor of theengine-house, or to some object behind the engine when it is in the p0-sition usually occupied in the house. The cylinder has a slot on oneside, through which to introduce a short thick port fire-match, E, afterthe screw is run down, after which the screw is turned up until thephosphorous-tipped upper end is in Contact with the frictionplate. Whenthe engine leaves the house to proceed to a tire the match will beignited by the friction-plate, and a llame from twelve to fteen incheshigh will be projected up between the grate-bars into the fuel longenough to ignite it thoroughly, thereby saving valualble time.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to sec-ure by Letters Patent,is

The combination, with a fire-grate, of the match-tube, thefriction-plate, and the screw, the same being adapted to receive andignite a friction port-lire, as specific( FRANK BEAUFAIT. Witnesses:

H. S. SPRAGUE, WM. P. SPAULDING.

